Chapter 34
When I arrive at the scene where Carina and the rest of the Cp agents where previously frozen at, I'm greeted by a sight that can be found in science fiction books.
The entire area, which was previously a dusty, empty street, now became a forest full of different flora, ranging from huge redwood like trees to bushes of yellow grass, it's all here, and the weirdest thing about this scene?
They are all moving in a vortex pattern around a specific area, moving in strategic ways in order to make something akin to a prison, and when I look closer, it can be seen that multiple individuals are trapped within said prison, these individuals are causing huge amounts of destruction to the plants, yet the plants do not relent, they continued to pour in like there's no tomorrow, acting as if they were given a direct order from god himself and would go to any lengths to follow said order.
As I focus on the trapped individuals, I can see them using large powerful wind blades and barrages of deadly finger pistols, one even seems to be firing off large wind blades shaped like animal jaws, similar to what Jabra did in the anime.
They are also Jumping repeatedly in order to try and fly out using Moonwalk, but are having no apparent success, since those huge redwoods are blocking their every path out of the encirclement.
This sight amazes me, because it's not every day that you get to see a living forest attacking and imprisoning people, powerful people at that.
However, this confuses me, because this sight leads me to believe that this was Carinas doing, and as can be clearly seen, these plants are holding in the agents just fine.
But I distinctly remember that she asked for help and said that she was actually running for her life at the moment.
Meaning that these are not her main problem, to confirm this I squint and look very closely, having some trouble due to all of the moving plants and the shadows of these people moving at blurring speeds, but as I focus even more, I can count the amount of people in the encirclement, and after a bit of double checking, I only count 2 people!
'Shit! I guess that third agent escaped the entrapment and is now chasing Carina!' I think hastily.
With this thought I quickly react, I bend my knees and jump as high as I possibly could, resulting in me jumping 30 feet into the air, and I then scan my surroundings, looking for any disturbances in the surrounding area.
I do this because I can't really hear over the cacophony of trees and wind attacks not far from me.
And just as gravity was taking its course and pulling me back down, I finally caught a glimpse of large dust clouds rising from a few miles north from here.
With a clear direction to head towards I let gravity take ahold and land back down onto the ground and immediately use my fastest shave in order to get there as quickly as possible.
'I'm coming Carina, hold on just a bit longer!'
…
Meanwhile, at Carina's position.
[Carina Pov]
*Haa Haa*
*Hoo Hoo*
I'm currently on my hands and knees, catching my breath from all the bobbing and weaving I've had to do today.
Don't get me wrong, I'm in amazing shape physically, I'm a 10/10 easy, it's as beautiful as can possibly be! But when you've got to perform with your life on the line? Not so easy.
Anyways what I've been doing to get me to this state is for the past few minutes I've had to dodge these crazy attacks, that if what Cade described as correctly, are actually wind blades.
And these wind blades don't appear to be normal, they for some reason are much sharper and larger than anything I've heard from Cade.
He did mention once in passing that swordsman are known to create huge wind blades, but what I'm facing right now is no swordsman…well kind of.
What I'm running from is a beast, a disgusting horrific beast, a beast that is actually one of those gray covered figures, with those creepy face masks that give me the chills.
The guy obviously has Zoan powers, and unfortunately for me, they allow him to track me down and keep up with me, even with my new powers.
This all started earlier in the day.
Earlier, when I was in the process of completing the deal with that stubby man, Lamb burger, I was completely worriless and completely confident that it would proceed smoothly, for me at least, not so much for him.
With my backup that is Cade and Porche, I completely believed that nothing could go wrong, as Cade had mentioned to me, this is merely one the four seas, not the Grand line, so everything should go according to plan.
I should have known better, if the life of a thief has taught me anything, it's to always expect the unexpected.
And following that maxim, it all went downhill very quickly when these 5 creepy looking gray clad individuals interrupted the operation, cutting off my escape to my new partners.
It all happened so fast, that only after minutes of thinking on what actually happened, did I actually get the big picture.
Apparently, I was surrounded by these threatening individuals, and before anything could truly go wrong, I along with 4 of the interlopers were completely frozen by Cade, using some sort of amazingly overpowered attack.
I thought he could only freeze someone for 30 seconds, like he did to me before, but I guess he was still hiding a few cards up his sleeve.
Anyways from there everything was a blur, it all happened in seconds.
While my vision and reaction time were slowed down significantly, I saw a few curious things. Things that if I didn't see the results with my own eyes, I would think it all happened in my head.
I saw a humongous Rat shoot his teeth at one of the agents, which if I had to guess, was where Porche went, fighting that disgusting looking rat.
I also saw a blur of a figure that looked remarkably like Cade, fighting one of the masked people that somehow avoided Cade's attack.
I wasn't sure, couldn't make out the details in my slowed down state. What I do know for a fact, however, is that I was completely panicking, and afraid, oh so very afraid.
I mean I'm not new to these types of situations, I am a thief for crying out loud, my profession is all about stealing from pirates, horrible criminals, and influential people all the freaking time.
But there's one thing that I've never truly encountered, not in the West Blue, and definitely not in the East Blue, superpowered people! I mean c'mon, the slowing devil fruit, the teleporting individuals, the freaking giant rat!
It was all so freaking absurd! And the only thing I could think about in my state of vulnerability, is to somehow get strong enough to actually be able to confront this reality! And that's when I remembered something crucial, the devil fruit!
I was actually holding in my hands a fucking devil fruit right now! And not just any devil fruit, if what Cade says is true, it's a fucking amazing devil fruit, one of the best!
It's right in that small bag in my left hand! Right within my reach!
Chapter 35
[Carina Pov continues]
Thinking this I quickly tried to act and open the small bag, which was holding the devil fruit, in order to try and consume the fruit, but I couldn't do it! I was still completely frozen in place!
Seeing this hurdle, I started brainstorming on what I could do to get over it!
I was frozen and couldn't move many of my muscles, and if I could they would only move extremely slowly, taking long seconds to even twitch a finger slightly, and I couldn't open the small bag either, it was not only physically impossible, but it would take a few minutes to open it anyways.
Complex knots were used to tie the end of the bag in order for its contents to not be easily accessible, something I assume Lamb Burger and his goons did on purpose to not risk me trying to eat the fruit right away, smart of them…
After a bit of thinking, I came up with a simple, if not unconventional solution, and that is to simply try and close my hand, squeezing the fruit in the process!
…
It didn't work for a good minute, it was so hard that it took seconds to move even a millimeter, and my hand was even turning blue from the effort of actually doing it; it all really hurt.
Yet I didn't give up! This is the only way I could think to get that fruit into my mouth as soon as possible! and thankfully my effort was not in vain! It began to pay off when a small wet spot slowly started appearing at the bottom of the bag.
What I was trying to achieve is simple if not a bit stupid, and that is to try and get the fruit juice into my mouth immediately after I'm set free! Due to knowing how Cades powers actually work, I know that it always has a time limit, so I'm counting on that happening any second now, it's been a few minutes after all! Allowing me to then sip a bit of the devil fruit juice, making me its user.
And just as predicted, a few seconds later I finally noticed that the slowing effects had run out…by falling hard on my back and spasming on the ground and feeling like my heart is going to jump out of my body! I think I'm having a heart attack!
"Aaa-gg-h-g-h-g-aaa-hh," I yell in pain.
Thankfully it stopped after about a minute of yelling and taking big gulps of air into my lungs. Yet when the pain finally went away, and I tried to sit up, I found out that I actually couldn't! I didn't have any strength left in me!
So, I simply turned my head to the side, trying to scope out my situation, and that's when I was met with the sight that relieved my aching heart a little; the 3 gray clad individuals, all laying passed out on the hard floor, breathing softly but clearly unconscious!
I was amazed by this, and that's when I recalled that during my episode of extreme concentration, putting all of my effort on intending to crush the devil fruit, my vision was actually getting increasingly blurry, and my hands began turning blue, I thought it was in effort! …but it appears that it might have been due to lack of oxygen…
Hee-hee
Anyways it quickly became apparent to me that Luck was on my side once again! Those 3 guys took the worst brunt of the attack! 'They were surrounding me after all…' I grumble slightly, which allowed me to keep my consciousness!
Therefore, with a soft relieved sigh for that issue being taken care of for the moment, I turn my attention onto something else.
I look down and look at the leaking bag, finding it still clutched in my hand, seeing it still there I smile weakly and slowly bring it up to my mouth and immediately start to suck on the bag, sucking the devil fruit juice right through the bag's cloth.
"Bleegh!"
It tastes like crap, the worst juice I've ever had!
Like mud covered in urine and shit, and that mud was then eaten by some disgusting animal and then regurgitated all over the ground, only for that to once again to be eaten and regurgitated by a different animal, and on it goes, again and again, it was truly one of the worst experiences of my life. Basically, filthy mud covered in shit and piss and layers upon layers of different tasting vomit!
Yet after a hard struggle, I stuck with it and finally swallowed the bit of juice that was in my mouth. Yet as the seconds ticked by after swallowing the juice, I remembered something crucial!
Devil fruits are meant to be eaten! Not drunk! Shit! Would I not get the powers if I drank a bit of the juice instead of taking a bite out of it?!
However, just as I was beginning to freak out, I'm distracted by something else!
Out of nowhere I began feeling like I was on cloud 9! A huge sense of euphoria suddenly enveloped me, making me feel like I was undergoing the best massage of all time while being surrounded by soft fluffy clouds in all directions.
I was feeling as if my entire body, the bones, muscles, organs, everything was going through a major evolution!
My muscles were tightening up and condensing to create tougher, more compact fibers.
My bones seemed as if they became lighter but at the same time stronger.
My organs felt as if they were finally placed into where they were always meant to be, making it easier to breathe and bend whichever way I possibly wanted.
I could even feel my girls, actually getting heavier and bigger! But at the same time, lighter, as if the size no longer affected the body at all! My back feeling the effects of this immediately, prompting me to smile dazedly.
Overall, it was a heavenly experience, every change that occurred came with soft soothing energy, and when the euphoria finally left me, I was amazed to feel the changes!
It felt like I could lift a ship and throw it as far as I wanted! Something that I immediately knew was just a mere feeling, not reality.
However, the change that I truly did feel could affect reality is the feeling of weightlessness, it felt like I could simply float away in the air or run and jump as fast and as far as I wanted! Without gravity ever being able to affect me! And remembering what this fruit is supposed to grant females, I quickly believed this was the real boon of the transformation.
Wanting to quickly test it, I jump onto my feet, not feeling any of the pain that I was previously feeling not long ago, and took a step forward, and then another, and another, until I was sprinting at unprecedented speeds!
I ran so fast that all I could see were blurs speeding by me.
I ran past demolished buildings, I ran until all I could hear was howling wind in my ears, it was all so glorious!
'I guess this is how the strong feel! Feeling as if you could do anything, be anything you want because of your strength and ability to do whatever you please!' I thought to myself in euphoria.
That line of thought however quickly came crashing down when I suddenly started feeling something different, something ominous, and that was pain!
A tremendous amount of pain coming from my stomach region!
And as I looked down, I was immediately horrified! There… where my stomach used to be, there was nothing! Only a large bloody gaping hole in the shape of a wild animal's maw!
And just as I saw this horrific scene, I heard three approaching footsteps coming from behind me.
"Where do you think you are going, Hellcat Karina? Did you think your silly little show of speed was enough to outpace us? It is unfortunate that while we were recovering from our little bout of unconsciousness, you took the liberty of eating the fruit…but I'm sure if we hand you over to some specific people back where we are from, you can be put to good use! This is actually a better outcome than originally planned! Afterall, now the World Government can take the fruit without any hassle from the allied Countries."
When I looked back, I saw that the speaker was a large man covered by a large gray cloak, but without wearing that creepy mask.
He appeared to have changed significantly from the last time I caught sight of him.
He was a freaking tiger! A white tiger to be more accurate.
However, this was the last thing on my mind at the moment! What was on my mind however is the large gaping hole in my stomach!
It was a disgusting, horrifying revelation, that I just gained a huge hole in my body, and if all that blood was anything to go by, I was about to meet my maker!
However, before I could fall too deeply into a pit of despair, suddenly something popped into my head, an ability that I naturally knew I could use to save myself.
And that was, simply, to ask for help!
And that's exactly what I did, "Help me, please help me!"
The man hearing this, sneered and said something I couldn't register, because out of nowhere, all I heard were thousands upon thousands of voices, creating a loud, chaotic jumble of sounds and voices.
Yet after a few seconds of pure chaos, suddenly all the voices bled into the background and I began to focus on the sound of a voice that seemed to be extremely close, and when I looked towards its direction, I was met by a regular fir tree that was only a few feet away from me! It had a deep and manly voice coming from it.
"I will help you guardian, please take my energy."
Then from a different direction came soft, high-pitched voices, and when I looked towards that direction, I was met with a few small ordinary shrubs not far away.
"We will help you guardian, please take our energy!"
And on and on it went, voices that originating from everywhere around me, responding to my plea.
And not a second later, beautiful green ethereal looking balls of energy surrounded and enveloped me completely, and just as I comprehended what was happening, I suddenly began to feel much better, no longer feeling pain or wariness of any sort!
And as I looked down to my open stomach, I was amazed to see my muscles, organs, and bones regrowing at a stupendous rate! And not a second after that, perfectly flawless skin covering my insides, making it seem as if I hadn't just had a huge hole in my stomach!
But just as I was about to fall into a reverie of amazement, I heard a clearly annoyed rough voice coming from behind me.
"GRRR, what a nuisance, she has a regen factor as well! These are always the most troublesome to deal with, Capture her!"
Yet without even letting him finish I was already moving as fast as I possibly could in order to get away! Not even glancing back to check how they would react to my sudden movement.
Chapter 36
[Mc Pov]
Just as I was nearing the disturbed area, I started hearing loud noises coming from the direction. They sounded like extremely sharp wind blades, and the sound of stone and wood being cut like butter gives credence to this.
Registering this fact, I don't stop moving and continue towards my destination.
And just as I landed on one of the remaining buildings, I was greeted by the sight of Carina, who was covered in plants head to toe, fending off a large green preying mantis with plants and vines that she controlled from the surrounding area.
However, this didn't seem to work too well for her, because the preying mantis didn't even react to this, simply waved its large pincers, generating huge wind blades and slicing through anything she threw at it, followed by it zooming to Carina's position and trying to bisect her whole.
Carina seemed to know this would happen, because she suddenly became somewhat transparent and dodged under the attack, rolling to safety, and continued running around the area.
Dodging and repeating the process again and again.
She seemed to be extremely tired as well, even with her covering herself in those green balls I saw before, which I knew from experience can replenish one's stamina and energy, it seemed as if they were no longer affecting her all that much.
This was an issue, one that I could easily resolve by jumping down there and helping her, but I was still holding off, looking around the area for any sign of the redhead that came in this direction.
She seemed to be up to something, and it worries me I haven't seen her yet. I know for a fact that if she were to come here and try to capture or kill Carina, she would not have a problem with it at all, she was just that powerful.
However, my searching was cut short when I heard a loud "Aaah," from Carina; and looking down I spotted her holding her bleeding arm tightly to her chest, with the large mantis quickly approaching her in order to hurt her further.
Seeing this my eyes become bloodshot, and I bare my teeth in anger, angry that I have to see Carina in such pain, and angry at myself for not helping her immediately, even if it was for a good reason.
And to correct that, I quickly shave and aim towards the preying mantis's trajectory with my eyes, immediately firing off a star beam when I locked onto his moving figure.
He seemed to not be expecting me because he was immediately hit by the attack, even if he was, he could have done very little to dodge it anyways, it was going near the speed of light; he's not that redhead after all, just a mere bug.
Seeing this I sigh and land near Carina and proceed to walk towards her.
"Sorry for taking so long, Carina, I came as fast as possible."
I say to her, she looks up at me, and I'm immediately amazed by her face, its bloody and covered in dust, but even with all this I can immediately tell that her beauty has jumped a few levels higher than what it previously was, and she wasn't anywhere near ugly before.
Seeing me approaching, somewhat nonchalantly at that, seemed to ignite a fire in her because she quickly stands from her position and approaches me.
She then walks closer and pulls my ear as hard as she can, and yells in it, "CADE don't lie to me!"
"I know you have been spying on us for a long time now! I almost got killed CADE! Is this what you wanted? To see me fall and then come in and play the knight and shining armor? Well!?"
But just as I was about to defend myself from her accusation, I sensed something and immediately brought her into myself for a hug, and not a second later, a large vertical wind blade tore-up the ground where Carina was standing.
Seeing this she is stunned for a second, but I don't give her time to say anything because I'm already near the mantis agent, and already in the motion of punching his large triangular shaped head with all of my strength.
And as my fist makes contact with his soft leathery head, it punches right through it and right into his pillowy brain, splattering it all over the place, including me.
However, I'm not satisfied, and I don't like that there are still bits and pieces of this fucker's head that are still recognizable, so I quickly bring my fist back, and start destroying anything that resembles a preying mantis head, making sure to take all of my anger out on this guy's corpse.
I was infuriated by the fact that this had to happen, the ambush, the cp agents, the fights, the chaos. This was meant to be an easy day, just in and out, beat up some weaklings, get a powerful fruit for my future teammate, and continue taking it easy until we reach the grand line.
But nooo all that had to go to shit with the arrival of that red haired bitch and her goons, and it's not even done yet, I still have to find Porche and make sure we survive whatever that red haired woman is planning.
*Punch* *Crunch*
*Punch* *Splat*
And just as I was about to destroy the mush that was this guy's head even further, I was stopped by a soft hand on my shoulder, "Stop Cade, it's enough, I think that if you continue, that guy's poor brain is gonna be nothing more than juice."
When I hear this I breathe in and out a few times, trying to calm myself, yet even as I do, I still have a bad feeling about what that red haired woman is planning, there's just no way that after all that, she just up and vanished.
"Your right, I just got carried away because this guy almost hurt you even though he was frozen, I guess I better start focusing on what I hit from now on," I say.
"Yeah… you should *cough* anyways I'm glad to see that you're okay, and thanks for saving me, let's forget about my little tantrum from earlier…" she awkwardly replies, holding her now healed arm.
I nod and then continue "yeah it's fine, no problem, that's what teammates are for, anyways we should go back, we still need to look for Porche-chan, I'm not too worried, she should be able to handle herself, what with all the tricks she has in that jumpsuit of hers, but we should reconvene and get out of here, before that red haired woman I was fighting comes back and screws us further."
With this she nods, and we move forward, back to where this all started.